Starvation and Food Insecurity in America

In 2012 more than 49 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33 million adults and about 15 million children. On average 1 out of every 6 Americans face hunger, but in states such as Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, Nevada and even California the chances of facing hunger are much higher.

North Carolina is another example of one of these high risk environments with a seventeen percent household food insecurity rate. As the food insecurity rate only continues to rise many members of the community are beginning to question the problem as well as searching for a solution. There are many speculations as to why there is such a huge increase in food insecurity. One common assumption is that poverty is the main cause of starvation and food deserts in America but, researchers recently discovered that unemployment is a stronger predictor of food insecurity than poverty. With the recent rise in unemployment this rise in food insecurity makes sense.

Food insecurity is also caused by “large space requirements and high overhead costs of opening a supermarket, retailers want to know they will have sufficient demand at a certain price point in order to be profitable.” With food insecurity rates on the rise in combination with the revival and demand for organic foods options such as CSAs and Food Co-ops are become more desirable.